Solar-heating structure



C. W. HARRIS SOLAR-HEATING STRUCTURE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Jan. 20, 1953 FiledJune 2, 1950 SUMMER SUN w 2 4 v [/v I WINTER INVENTOR. CLYDE W. HARRIS IATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1953 Filed June 2, 1950 SUMMER r SUN C. W HARRIS SOLARHEATING STRUCTURE 2 SI-IEETS-SX-IEET 2" FIG. 3

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,625,930 i 7 SOLAR-HEATING STRUCTURE Clyde W. Harris, Socorro, N. Mex.Application June 2, 1950, Serial No. 165,657

3 Claims.

This invention ,relate to building structures adapted for solar heatingof the interior of the building.

Some features disclosed in this application are more broadly claimed inmy copending applications Serial No. 785,316, filed Nov. 12, 1947,Serial No. 48,671, filed Sept. 10, 1948. and Serial No. 86,234. filedApril 8. 1949.

The chief objects of the present invention are to provide a simple,inexpensive, durable and highly effective structure for the above statedpurpose. I

More specific objects are to provide a compact and efficient structure,localized in a single spaceenclosing element of the building, such as awall or the ceiling-and-roof structure, for performing the threefunctions of (l) collecting solar energy, (2) storing the energy for useat night or on cloudy days and (3) transmitting the stored heat to theinterior of the room when it is needed.

A further specific object is to provide economically and effectively forconservation of heat by providing heat-storage means effectivelyinsulated against escape of heat therefrom except to the interior of theroom.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a north-and-south section of a ceiling-and-roof structureembodying my invention in one of its preferred forms.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, with the middle part of thestructure broken away.

Fig. 3 is a north-and-south section of a modiflcation.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a set of laterallyabutted hollow metal ceiling beams ID, In each containing a substance Hhaving a temperature of reversible transition a little higher than thedesired room temperature, a good example of which is tertiary butylalcohol (trimethyl carbinol) which melts at '17.? degrees F. and stores21 B. t. u. per lb. of the material in melting and releases acorresponding amount of heat in freezing.

The beams are filled not quite full of the material, so that an airspace l2 above the material in each beam is left to provide forexpansion and contraction of the material. 1

The beams are closed at their ends, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and theends of each beam are mounted upon respective wall structures l3, l3.

Upon the set of beams is a layer of opaque and preferably black materialM which can be merely a coat of paint, for converting the rays of the 2I sun into heat, and preferably the layer is thin, for good transmission'of the heat, through the metal of the beam, to the heat-storingInaterial ll.

Mounted upon the hollow ceiling beams, crosswise thereof, area set ofroof joists l5, l5 of which the upper edges are suitably shaped, sawtooth fashion, to seat with extensive contact a set of approximatelyhorizontal sheet-metal reflectors l6, l6 having both upper and lowerreflecting faces.

Each reflector has a margin approximately under the adjacent margin ofthe next and the said margins, of each pair, are crimped to hold inplace a glass or other transparent sheet ll,

approximately in a vertical position.

Thus the reflectors and the glass provide an I outer wall-element ofserrated or stepped form exposed to solar radiation and adapted totransmit the said radiation to the surface of the layer of opaquematerial [4.

Each reflector, with a concave upper face, has such curvature and is setin such relation to the transparent sheet I! rising from its margin asto reflect rays of the winter sun, with concentration of the reflectedrays, through the transparent sheet and onto the convex lower face ofthe adjacent reflector, which, with divergence of the reflected rays,reflects the rays onto the conversion or energy-absorbing opaque surfacematerial M, from which the heat is transmitted by conduction, and tosome extent by radiation, to the metal of the beams l0 and thence to theheat-storing material I I.

The reflectors serve as gutters for shedding of rain water and can begiven a lengthwise slope for improving their performance of thatfunction.

To lessen escape of heat back into the outer atmosphere, twosuperimposed sets of insulating air-pockets are provided by dividingeach space between joists l5 into an upper pocket and a lower pocket bysheets of glass or other transparent material l8, I8 supported uponledges provided by spacer strips I9, I9 set against and secured to theside faces of the joists l5.

With proportions as here shown, which are of course subject tovariation, and under climatic conditions existing at Socorro, N. Mex,for example, and with suitable control of ventilation, the roomtemperature will remain within a comfortable range throughout a muchgreater range of outdoor temperature, the heat-storing materialabsorbing a large amount of heat in melting and, in refreezing,transmitting a large amount of heat to the interior of the room.

My present invention is well adapted for the use in conjunctiontherewith of any known or suitable variable-insulation means, such, forexample, as that described and claimed in my copending applicationSerial No. 48,671, filed Sept. 10, 1948.

The modification shown in Fig. 3 corresponds to that shown in Figs. 1and 2 except that the reflectors, lBa, 16a are of somewhat differentshape, are more'near-lyyertical', and, with greater: angles of incidenceand reflection, reflect the rays in a southerly direction, instead of anortherly direction, for their passage through the transpar-- entsheets, Ha, Ha, and onto the inner-:faceof the adjacent reflector.

In this embodiment of Fig. 3 it isunnecessary to give the roof joists asaw-tooth edge contour, I

as the sheet metal members Ilia, [6a have such shape that they areself-supporting andstronglyi resist distortion when secured to straightupper edges of the joists, asshown, byscrews lfib, [6b,- havingmubbersealing washers I60, I 60 under their heads.

Further modifications are possible without departure from the scopeoftheinvention as defined by; the appended claims, in which i the; wordwall isintendedto-be inclusive of a ceilingand-roof' structure aswellasaside wall of a building.

An, advantage of l the structure as described is that throughout a largepart of the summer months; when the sun. is higher in the sky, its rayshitthe-reflectors. atsuch angles that they are reflected backinto.thesky, instead of through the glass. windows, as indicatedby: thebroken.

lines, so that shades, blindsvor the like-are unnecessary In; theappendedsclaimsthe word house-wall is intended to be inclusive-ofbothroof walls. and side ,walls.

I claim:

1. A solar-heating house-wall. structure comprisinga=series of hollow,strength-giving wall members, aheat-storage mater-ialin said members andhavinga temperatureof reversible transitionmoderately higher, than 68degreesF and, spaced from-said members'and therewith defining aheat-insulating? air space, an outer wallelement of stepped form andcomprising: a series delight-transmitting elements andin alternationstepped-form and comprising a series of lighttransmitting elements and,in alternation therewith, a series of reflector elements, each of thelatter having an outer reflecting surface formed and positioned forreflecting solar radiation through one'of-thesaid light-transmittingelements and an inner reflecting surface formed and positioned toreceive solar radiation from one of said lighttransmitting elements andreflect it onto said opaque house-wall element.

3-. A structure as defined in claim 2 in which the recited outerreflecting surface of each of the recited reflector elements is of suchshapeand. has such angular relation to the earth and to an adjacent oneof the'recited light-transmit ting elements that it. reflects solarradiation through the said light-transmitting element only as to thewinter sun and notas to the summer.

sun.

CLYDE W. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 117,476 Sperry July 25, 1871246,626 Morse Sept. 6, 1881 290,851 Calver Dec. 25, 1883 430,762 TaylorJune 24, 1890 679,451 Baker July 30, 1901 681,095 Baker Aug. 20, 1901965,391 Little July 26, 1910 2,428,876 Hawkins Oct. 14, 1947 2,469,496ChristensOn May 10, 1949

